About last chapter' I messed around with the names a bit, so I just want to explain my reasoning-
The Weasley's:
I found it very confusing with all the different 'Mr. Weasleys' so I'm sure snape did to, that's why he probably calls them by their first names, at least in his head, and also, he seems the kind of guy to insist on their full names so I did that as well.
Hermione and Neville:
they are the only Granger and Longbottom in the story so far, so there is no reason to call them by their first names.
'Thoughts'
"quotes\talking"
Chapter 4
As it was, I didn't have long to wait, I nearly jumped out of my skin when The Dark Lord's voice filled the air, my eyes flew open, and I rose shakingly to my feet.
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. "
There was an eerie silence following this announcement, Ronald and Granger were looking in shock at each other. Ginevra was shaking her head franticly, her face had gone white, "no, he's lying, he has to be, harry would never…" a look of understanding and dread crossed her face.
"WHO HAS SEEN HARRY?" she shouted franticly around the hall,
"WHEN WAS HE SEEN LAST?"
Before she had finished speaking, Longbottom stepped forward and grabbed her arm, he looked stricken, "I… he, he said he wasn't going to…he, about thirty minutes ago…under the cloak" was all he managed to stutter, Ginevra stumbled backward and would have fallen if Charles hadn't caught her this time.
"He gave himself up."- her whisper was heard by the whole hall, even though The Dark Lord had continued his speech-
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anybody who continues to resist, man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
Fucking liar, I thought darkly.
There was no going back now, this was it, Nagini first, and then The Dark Lord himself.
Before I could process what was happening, Ginevra, Ronald, Granger and Longbottom were running toward the courtyard, they were quickly followed by the rest of the Weasleys, Minerva, and everyone still able to walk, ever George left his twin's side to see if the news was true.
I waited until I was the last one and then followed silently, strengthening my disillusionment charm as I went.
"NO!"
A terrible scream pierced the air, it took me a moment to realize who it had come from, for I had never expected or dreamed that Minerva could make such a sound. He heard another woman laughing nearby, and knew that Bellatrix gloried in Minerva's despair. I edged closer for a better view, and my breath caught as I saw Potter in Hagrid's arms, Lily's little boy limp and lifeless. The grief that washed over me confused me, had I really grown to care for Harry, like Albus had thought?!
I swiftly shook myself from those distracting thoughts, and watched as The Dark Lord stroked Nagini's head with a single white finger. Granger and the Weasley's were screaming now, as they spotted the corpse of their friend-
"No!"
"No!"
"Harry! HARRY!"
their cries acted like a trigger; the crowd of survivors took up the cause, screaming and yelling abuse at the remaining Death Eaters, until—
"SILENCE!"-
cried The Dark Lord, and there was a bang and a flash of bright light, and silence was forced upon them all.
I felt a certain amount of pride at my students' s defiance, if only I had done the same at their age, I thought ruefully.
The Dark Lord was speaking again-
"It's over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"
I watched with conflicting emotions as Harry* was lowered onto the grass.
"You see?" said The Dark Lord, striding backward and forward,
"Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice them selves for him!"
He was the deluded one, Potter had nearly never relied on others, it was one of his greatest flaws, so much could have been avoided if he had just trusted a bit more.
"He beat you!" yelled Ronald, and The Dark Lord's charm seemed to brake, the defenders of Hogwarts were shouting and screaming again until a second, more powerful bang extinguished their voices once more.
"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," said The Dark Lord, I felt like scoffing at his lie, he knew nothing,
"killed while trying to save himself— " But he broke off: there was scuffle and a shout, then another bang, a flash of light, and a grunt of pain; Someone had broken free of the crowd and charged at The Dark Lord, I groaned out loud as I saw who it was, the figure hit the ground, Disarmed, The- fuck it, Voldemort* threw the boy's wand aside and laughed.
"And who is this?" he said in his soft snake's hiss.
"Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?" 'Dear' Bella gave a delighted laugh.
"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"
I felt like being sick.
"Ah, yes, I remember," said Voldemort, looking down at Longbottom, who was struggling back to his feet, unarmed and unprotected, standing in the no-man's-land between the survivors and the Death Eaters.
"But you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked Longbottom, who stood facing him, his empty hands curled into fists.
"So what if I am?" he retorted loudly.
Stupid brave Gryffindor, he was going to get himself killed.
"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."
"I'll join you when hell freezes over," said Longbottom.
"Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom for some reason Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold.
Despite my dread, my earlier feeling of pride returned again as well, Longbottom seemed to be finally embracing the best parts of himself.
"Very well," said Voldemort, and I heard more danger in the silkiness of his voice than in the most powerful curse.
'Oh Merlin!'
"If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head," he said quietly, "be it."
I flinched as Voldemort waved his wand, Seconds later, out of one of the castle's shattered windows, something that looked like a misshapen bird flew through the half light and landed in Voldemort's hand.
He shook the mildewed object by its pointed end and it dangled, empty and ragged: the Sorting Hat.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," said Voldemort. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
He pointed his wand at Longbottom, who grew rigid and still, then forced the hat onto Longbottom's head, so that it slipped down below his eyes.
There were movements from the watching crowd in front of the castle, and as one, the Death Eaters raised their wands, holding the fighters of Hogwarts at bay.
This was not good, I needed to act, and fast.
"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Voldemort, and with a flick of his wand, he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames.
Screams split the dawn, and Longbottom was aflame, rooted to the spot, unable to move.
'shit' I placed the strongest protection charms I knew around myself and stepped forward, ready to intervene, but then Longbottom moved too.
In one swift, fluid motion, Longbottom broke free of the Body-Bind Curse upon him, the flaming hat fell off him and he drew from its depths something silver, with a glittering, rubied handle— The slash of the silver blade seemed to draw every eye.
With a single stroke Longbottom sliced off the great snake's head, which spun high into the air, gleaming in the light flooding from the entrance hall, and Voldemort's mouth opened in a scream of fury as the snake's body thudded to the ground at his feet—
The death eaters and Defenders were in shock and Voldemort was beyond enraged, he shot a curse at Longbottom, but I was faster, I simultaneously cast a Protego* on the boy, and removed my disillusionment charm.
I took a step forward so that I was in full view to the remaining fighters, and calmly stated-
"One thousand points to Gryffindor, Mr. Longbottom."
He He, well that was fun.
Please, please, please review!
*About the names,
Harry:
I think snape is starting to see harry as not just the son of 'Potter' but as his own person as well, so I had him slip up and call him Harry a few times.
Voldemort:
I think snape is gave up calling him 'The Dark Lord'(in his mind at least), because he has stopped pretending to serve him, and doesn't care anymore,
Also, I find it really annoying saying 'The Dark Lord' the whole time and I'm sure snape does to.
**I know shield charms don't work on unforgivables, but that's what Harry used to protect Neville in the original book, so snape used it here as well.
Anyway, more on those two later.
Enjoy, and don't forget to review!